£125m turnover group opens new doors for manufacturer

Kartell UK, a supplier of heating and bathroom products, has completed the acquisition of Summerbridge Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Humber Doors, which trade as Summerbridge.

Headquartered in Anlaby, East Yorkshire, Summerbridge produces kitchen and bathroom cabinets and doors for manufacturers, contractors, developers and distributors across the leisure, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom and commercial and residential development sectors.

It employs more than 120 people, delivering more than £7m in annual sales.

Summerbridge is set to receive investment from the Kartell group. It will continue to operate as a standalone business within the group under the guidance of the existing management team.

And it will benefit from opportunities to work with the group’s other businesses, including Just Trays, a shower tray manufacturer in Leeds and Vogue, a manufacturer of designer towel warmers in Willenhall.

Founded in 2008, Kartell is the largest supplier of radiators, designer towel warmers and bathroom products to the independent and merchant showroom sector in the UK.

It turns over more than £125m using brands K-RAD, K-VIT, JT and Vogue, and employs more than 430 people across sites in Bedford, Wigan, Willenhall and Leeds.

Kartell was advised by FRP Corporate Finance’s East Midlands team, led by Harry Walker, with legal advice from a team led by Sophie Burke of Fladgate LLP and financial due diligence provided by Price Bailey LLP.

Alex Norford, CEO of Kartell, said: “We always strive to deliver exactly what our customers require and recognised earlier this year we needed to secure additional bathroom furniture supply to provide the consistent, high quality products our customers expect from us.

“It is with great pleasure we are supporting the future of another fantastic British manufacturer and having identified the benefits Hull’s status as a Freeport can bring to the group, we were keen to be invested in a city which is clearly making giant strides in the UK economy.”

Simon Lunt, director of Summerbridge Holdings, said: “We acquired Summerbridge in 2018 and have worked alongside the wonderful team at the business to put it back on the path to growth.

“It is with great pleasure that I and my fellow directors hand over the reins to Alex and the team at Kartell to take Summerbridge forwards.”

Harry Walker, partner at FRP Corporate Finance, added: “Alex and the team at Kartell identified the need to secure a consistent supply of furniture as a strategic priority for their business earlier this year and asked us to help.

“We approached the owners of Summerbridge and then effected an introduction to Kartell.

“It was apparent that the fit between the two businesses was ideal from early in the discussions and having led negotiations and supported the project at all stages, we are delighted to have delivered a successful acquisition for Kartell.”

Shareholders of Summerbridge received legal advice from a team from Gosschalks LLP, led by Nigel Beckwith.

Shawbrook Bank provided Kartell with increased facilities to finance the acquisition of Summerbridge and were advised by a team from Shoosmiths LLP, led by John Bew.